Increase Deaf Patients’ Autonomy by Identifying the Dynamic of Privilege and Power

This webinar will discuss different types of privilege and power that healthcare professionals, sign language interpreters and Deaf patients have when working together. It is not often that we discuss the types of privilege and power that can help and harm the relationship. The webinar will break down the privilege and power dynamics in each area. At the end of the webinar, we will discuss healthcare providers and how they can support and cultivate the healthcare and patient relationship with an interpreter.

Presented by: Carla Shird, MA, LPC, CDI

Carla Shird (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI). She received her BS from Howard University in Psychology and MA in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University. Carla is currently a freelance interpreter, therapist, mentor, educator, and presenter. Carla has expertise in providing workshops on diversity and privilege, consultation, mentorship, interpreting, and mental health counseling. She is passionate about helping people to create self-awareness, self-care, and becoming more connected with themselves, others, and their personal and professional goals.

Communication Access for the Hard of Hearing

Hearing loss is often misunderstood and it’s been misrepresented by society for years. While there are a variety of ways to accommodate someone with hearing loss, communication needs remain largely unknown. There is diversity in hearing loss, don’t make assumptions. In this video, learn how high frequency hearing loss affects the sounds of speech. Reduce communication breakdowns using lipreading strategies, assistive listening devices and captioning accommodations.

Presented by: Chelle Wyatt

Chelle Wyatt is a dedicated advocate for the Hard of Hearing community, drawing from personal experience with progressive hearing loss and tinnitus that began in their teens. After learning to navigate life with hearing aids and the complexities of hearing loss, Chelle has committed to sharing their knowledge. As the Hard of Hearing Program Manager for the Utah Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) from 2018 to 2021, Chelle led a team, created educational programs, and significantly increased attendance, earning the Best of the Best and Director’s Awards. Chelle has been a long-time volunteer with organizations such as the SayWhatClub and the Hearing Loss Association of America, where their contributions have been recognized with the 2014 Hamilton Relay Award for community service.

Reframing Systemic Change in Healthcare

During this webinar, the presenter will discuss how healthcare professionals and administrators can understand the impact of their decisions and drive the delivery of patient-centered care to the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

During this webinar, the presenter will explore how healthcare professionals and administrators may inadvertently perpetuate and exacerbate the long-standing barriers and challenges the Deaf community faces across the care continuum. To ensure healthcare professionals and administrators understand the impact of their decisions and drive the delivery of patient-centered care to this population, we will discuss the disconnect between what should be done and what is implemented in practice. As part, the presenter will touch on the various experiences this often-marginalized community encounters at different touchpoints in the healthcare system. Furthermore, the presenter will provide actionable steps that healthcare organizations can implement to advance the quality, safety and experience of the healthcare continuum for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals.

Presented by: Corey Axelrod, MBA

Corey Axelrod founded 2axend in 2017 after observing the challenges his father, Rick Axelrod, faced when advocating as a Deaf individual for his right to quality communication access in healthcare during his tumultuous battle with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow.

As a member of a multigenerational Deaf family, Corey has been long exposed to the various systemic barriers impacting his family and the greater Deaf and hard of hearing community. Corey is committed to eliminating these barriers and guiding organizations to create equitable experiences for his community.

Corey also currently sits on Northwest Community Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council and serves as a member of the ASTM International F43.06 Subcommittee on Captioning Standards. In June 2021, Corey completed his third-term as president of the Illinois Association of the Deaf, Illinois’ leading civil rights organization of, by and for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Illinoisans.

Road Tripping to Effective Practice for Deaf Individuals in Rural Communities

The presentation dives into paralleling experiences of deaf and rural communities and discusses effective practice of deaf in rural communities accessing health care services.

ASL Deaf Clinician and Deaf Community Health Worker DT Bruno, MSW discusses common experience among deaf communities out in the rural accessing the health care system. Throughout the presentation, attendees will familiarize themselves with deaf communities, rural living, barriers to accessing health care services and recommended practice to enhance quality of care.

Presented by: DT Bruno, MSSW

DT Bruno is a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) and mental health therapist who works with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities across New Hampshire. Drawing from their lived experience as a Deaf, ASL-using individual raised by Deaf adults and hearing, Spanish-speaking Hispanic grandparents who faced numerous healthcare barriers, DT Bruno applies this unique perspective to address health disparities in these communities. Since 2021, they have been actively involved with ProHealth NH as a CHW and research interviewer, gathering valuable data. Now entering their third year of providing direct services, DT Bruno works with a diverse population varying in age, language development, and lifestyle. They have also served on multiple committees and consulted on various projects, bringing expertise in teamwork, project management, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). DT Bruno aims to pursue further education in public health or clinical social work, with the goal of becoming a public health researcher focused on social determinants of health.

An Introduction to Working with American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters in Healthcare Settings
(Part 1 of 3)

This webinar will cover information on types of interpreters present in medical settings, the benefits of working with interpreters, and the scope of practice for professional medical interpreters. Participants will learn how to have a successful encounter with an ASL interpreter and specific strategies they can employ to provide culturally-specific care to Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deafblind patient populations.

Presented by: Jenna Curtis

Jenna Curtis is an interpreter practitioner, educator, and leader with over 12 years of experience providing top-tier language access for Deaf, DeafBlind, and American Sign Language (ASL) users throughout Oregon. Her interpreting expertise spans various settings, including education, healthcare, community, video relay services, and government. As the former President of the Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the state’s sole professional association for sign language interpreters, Jenna worked collaboratively to promote best practices in interpreting services.

Most recently, Jenna managed Language Services at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), ensuring that all patients using languages other than English could access care across OHSU’s three major hospitals and over 50 satellite clinics. She holds a B.A. in ASL/English Interpreting and an M.A. in Teaching Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University. Jenna is Nationally Certified (NIC) by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and a Qualified Healthcare Interpreter recognized by the Oregon Health Authority.

True to her Oregon roots, Jenna loves exploring the outdoors with her partner and their two energetic German Shorthair Pointers, while daydreaming about van-life adventures. She’s also a budding amateur travel agent, with herself as her only client!

Working with American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters in Inpatient Settings
(Part 2 of 3)

This webinar is designed for staff and providers working in in-patient settings who want to deepen their knowledge on how to effectively partner with ASL interpreters to provide culturally-centered care for Deaf patient populations. Participants will learn tips to support successfully schedule and coordinate with interpreters and advanced strategies for working with ASL interpreters as part of the care team. The webinar will include information on the limitations of video remote interpreting and the use of ad hoc interpreters. Recommended for participants who have taken “An Introduction to Working with American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters in Healthcare Settings”

Presented by: Jenna Curtis

Jenna Curtis is an interpreter practitioner, educator, and leader with over 12 years of experience providing top-tier language access for Deaf, DeafBlind, and American Sign Language (ASL) users throughout Oregon. Her interpreting expertise spans various settings, including education, healthcare, community, video relay services, and government. As the former President of the Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the state’s sole professional association for sign language interpreters, Jenna worked collaboratively to promote best practices in interpreting services.

Most recently, Jenna managed Language Services at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), ensuring that all patients using languages other than English could access care across OHSU’s three major hospitals and over 50 satellite clinics. She holds a B.A. in ASL/English Interpreting and an M.A. in Teaching Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University. Jenna is Nationally Certified (NIC) by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and a Qualified Healthcare Interpreter recognized by the Oregon Health Authority.

True to her Oregon roots, Jenna loves exploring the outdoors with her partner and their two energetic German Shorthair Pointers, while daydreaming about van-life adventures. She’s also a budding amateur travel agent, with herself as her only client!

Working with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters in Ambulatory Settings
(Part 3 of 3)

Staff and providers working in ambulatory/out-patient settings including but not limited to doctors offices, primary care clinics, specialty clinics, community health centers, urgent care clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. Participants who want to advance their knowledge on working with ASL interpreters.

Provides advanced strategies for working with ASL interpreters and increasing the effectiveness of communication for in-person and telehealth encounters with Deaf patients.

Presented by: Jenna Curtis

Jenna Curtis is an interpreter practitioner, educator, and leader with over 12 years of experience providing top-tier language access for Deaf, DeafBlind, and American Sign Language (ASL) users throughout Oregon. Her interpreting expertise spans various settings, including education, healthcare, community, video relay services, and government. As the former President of the Oregon Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the state’s sole professional association for sign language interpreters, Jenna worked collaboratively to promote best practices in interpreting services.

Most recently, Jenna managed Language Services at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), ensuring that all patients using languages other than English could access care across OHSU’s three major hospitals and over 50 satellite clinics. She holds a B.A. in ASL/English Interpreting and an M.A. in Teaching Interpreting Studies from Western Oregon University. Jenna is Nationally Certified (NIC) by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and a Qualified Healthcare Interpreter recognized by the Oregon Health Authority.

True to her Oregon roots, Jenna loves exploring the outdoors with her partner and their two energetic German Shorthair Pointers, while daydreaming about van-life adventures. She’s also a budding amateur travel agent, with herself as her only client!

Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Evaluations with D/DB/HH Individuals

Learn the barriers to valid psychological and neuropsychological evaluations among our deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, and late-deafened population.

There are several barriers or issues that prevent deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals from receiving valid psychological evaluations. Although there are many issues that can prevent a valid diagnosis, eight specific issues will be discussed in the presentation.

Presented by: Jaime Wilson, Ph.D., ABN, ABPP

Dr. Wilson is a prescribing medical psychologist and board-certified neuropsychologist in full-time private practice inside and outside Washington State. He holds privileges at several area hospitals and has worked extensively with physicians, other healthcare providers, and forensic experts, providing neuropsychological evaluations across the U.S. The field of neuropsychology is dedicated to learning about and diagnosing conditions related to the brain and nervous system.

As a Past President of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses (www.AMPHL.org), Dr. Wilson also serves on the Diversity Council for the Society of Prescribing Psychology and as Chair of the Diversity Committee for the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology.

Born with a profound hearing loss, Dr. Wilson grew up wearing bilateral hearing aids and primarily communicated using spoken language, although he is also an American Sign Language user. Dr. Wilson resides in Olympia, WA, with his wife (a registered nurse who is also deaf), three kids, and a King Charles Spaniel named Pepper Jack.

Improving Health Literacy Among the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities

This workshop will provide a brief overview of the state of health literacy in the Deaf and hard of hearing communities and best practices to improve health literacy in those communities.

This presentation will provide a brief overview of health literacy, its impact on patient care, and the state of health literacy in the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Additionally, this presentation will provide strategies to improve health literacy for Deaf and hard of hearing patients.

Presented by: Kalen Beck

Kalen Beck, CI and CT, brings more than 30 years of language access expertise to the field as a nationally certified interpreter, a consultant, national presenter, and formal mentor to both community and educational interpreters. Kalen currently owns her own consulting firm where she provides consultative services on topics such as language access, disability access, health literacy, and cultural readiness.
With a degree in Interpreter Education from George Mason University, Ms. Beck has spent much of her executive career in healthcare, government, and private industry. Kalen has served on numerous language access boards serving in a variety of roles. She currently serves as the Professional Development Chair of Nevada Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (NVRID) and will begin serving as the Secretary/Treasurer for the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE) in June 2023.

Invisibility of BIPOC’s in Mental Health Crisis in Black/BIPOC Communities

Examine the invisibility of Deaf BIPOC individuals in mental health crises within Deaf BIPOC communities. Discover the reasons behind the lack of Deaf BIPOC clients seeking treatment and learn how the current mental health system inadequately supports them. Gain insights, research-backed knowledge, and actionable strategies to promote inclusivity and address the barriers faced by Deaf BIPOC communities in accessing mental health care.

Presented by LeeAnne Valentine, MS

LeeAnne Valentine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling with a focus on Sex Therapy from Capella University. She completed an externship at the University of Rochester (NY) for a year, followed by two years as a staff clinician. Motivated by a desire to serve BIPOC individuals who were hesitant to visit hospital clinics, LeeAnne established her private practice. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including the Humanitarian Award from Reverend Al Sharpton in 2019. LeeAnne is currently an adjunct professor at NTID under RIT, teaching courses on Antiracism and LEAD Intersectionality. She is also an advocate for greater accessibility to mental health treatment for BIPOC, particularly within Black and Brown communities. As an advocate, activist, scholar, educator, and mother, LeeAnne continues to make a significant impact in her field. For more information or therapy services, visit www.purpletree.clinic.